Options If You Don’t Have STL

What Can I Do If I Want To Print Something But Don’t Have An STL File ?

A 3D printer, by its very nature, prints in 3D using data taken from a digital 3D file called an STL (there are new formats being developed that can be used but STL’s are still the most common). These files usually have been exported from CAD software or similar modelling softwares. The part may have been directly designed in those programs or cleaned up in them from a scanned file of a real world object.

Below we’ll go over some options for you if you have an object and want it printed but you don’t have a 3D file.

What’s The Best Way For Me To Get An STL File

This will mainly depend on what you want made – it’s size, weight, location, fragility, supporting info etc all have a consideration on the result.

CAD

CAD (Computer Aided Design) is a process of creating digital files by using pre-determined parameters and information to generate the final model. It’s widely used, powerful and versatile.

+ Pros

Covers basic and user friendly programs up to advanced ones that are capable of complex and precise design

Many beginner programs are available free and have many tutorials to follow

Allows precise control over sizes and geometry of models

– Cons

Free programs are limited and professional ones are expensive and complex

Not easy to recreate organic shapes

Require a lot of time to create complicated and un-conventional geometries

3D Scanning

3D Scanning is a powerful and versatile way to capture the geometry of an existing object as is, where is. It can do in minutes what could take days to do with CAD modelling and captures organic and unconventional geometry quickly and easily.

+ Pros

Portable, can be used to scan large or small objects that either can’t be moved or are fragile

Quickly and easily captures organic geometry and curves

Some scanners directly capture colours and textures too

– Cons

Similar to CAD, the cheap, easy to use scanners are limited and professional options expensive and harder to use

Files generated are difficult to modify precisely

Files rarely can be used straight away, usually need ‘cleaning up’

Costs

The first thing to mention here is that if you have a simple object that does not have complex geometry then you can easily use a free CAD program to design your part for free – all it costs is a bit of your time.

After that then you need to decide whether your part suits Scanning or CAD.

General costs for scanning will start out at around a couple of hundred dollars to hire a technician or around $1000 for an entry level scanner. The cost of a technician is usually based on an hourly rate, and the cost of a scanner is generally based off achievable accuracy and amount of automation it and the bundled software does for you.

CAD, again, will likely cost a couple of hundred to hire a designer, and they usually work off an hourly rate or quote. CAD software ranges from free and basic to several thousands of dollars and complex.

Preparation For Printing

Whether you have had a file designed in CAD or scanned then it’s important that it’s suitable for printing to get the best result. This encompasses tolerancing, minimum and maximum sizes, material considerations, strength, surface finish etc. Please see the Design Guidelines below for a more complete and detailed list of requirements.